Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-19
s1AxERs OF MRS. ERNST.

Chamberlain and Taylor Brought Bes
 fore the Superior Court = Taylor
 Pleads Guilty to Murder in lhe Sec.
 ond Degree-Judge Stoddard Sem.
 tences Them Both to SGatess Prison
 During the Rest Of Their Natural
 Lives-The Coffee and Cisco Cases.
 ''In the case of the State against Henry B. Chamberlain, the accused having been con- vieted of murder in the second degree, the
 sentence of this court is that he be impris- oned in the Connecticut State prison for the
 rest of his natural life"
 So spoke Judge Stoddard in the criminal
 side of the Superior court, which came in at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. The prisoner, who had been standing up, resumed his seat as Judge Stoddard concluded. He took his sentence very coolly.
 In the prisoners pen besides Chamberlain were three other men who had the terrible charge of murder hanging over their heads. They were James F. Taylor, Chamberlain's accomplice in the killing of Widow Ernst; William Cisco, who killed Harriet Thomp- son, and Peter Coffee, charged with the murder of Station Agent Way at Stony Creek Cisco was put to plead after Cham
 berlain had received his sentence.
  the killing of Harriet Thompson
 on June 14 by striking, beating and kicking her on one count, and by killing her in some manner unknown to the State attor- ney in another He pleaded not guilty. E1-Judge Blydenburgh was appointed his counsel.
 The next case called was that against Peter Coffee The clerk read the indictment charging Coffee with murder in the first de- gree, Coffee standing the while with fixed, dull, vacant stare in his eyes. The first count in the indictment ehsrges that Peter Coffee, of the town of Branford, on May 9, 1887, did feloniously, wilfulIy and of malice afore- thought make an assault on the body of Charles I. Way, and did wrap, fssten. tie and fix about the neck of said Charles I. Way a piece of cloth to the value of 50 cents, and did with said piece of cloth wilfully, feloni-
 ously and of malice aforethought choke, suf- locate and smother said Charles I. Way, of which choking, suffocating and snnothering the said Charles I. Way then and there in- stantly died; and the grand jury accordingly find that he killed and murdered the said Charles I. Way. Coffee pleaded not guilty and Lawyer Blydenburgh was appointed his counsel.
 James F. Taylor, Chamberlain's accom- plice, was next escorted to the dock. Taylor, by advice of his counsel, pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree. 'I have con- cluded to accept this plea" said State Attor- ney Doolittle, "and now move for sentence in the case" Judge Stoddard then sentenced Taylor to State prison for the rest of his natural life. Taylor took his seat without any visible signs of emotion. Beside him sat his mother and sister, who wept bitterly. When the prisoners were being taken down stairs Mrs. and Miss Taylor followed the light haired lad down and there was very painful leave-taking of the unfortunate youth. Soon after the Taylor case was dis n0aed Of the cOurk WAS adi0urned without date The Coffee and Cisco cases will be tried at the October term of the court. Chamberlain and Taylor will be taken to Wethersfeld as soon as practicable.